V-bottom service tank

ABSTRACT

The achievement and economical method of the cleanout of the service tank, providing greater safety due to the V-Shape bottom of the service tank of a hot oil unit.

CROSS REF. TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] NOT APPLICABLE

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] NOT APPLICABLE

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

[0003] NOT APPLICABLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The V-Bottom Service Tank was designed by me, Ronald Chandler,and is an integral section of a Hot Oil Unit, which is used in theoilfield services industry, to assist in the paraffin meltdown in thewell head, in order for oil to be brought to the surface. The ServiceTank holds and supplies oil to the heater, which is mounted on a TruckChassis. My business is listed as an Oil and Gas Field EquipmentManufacturer, and I manufacture hot oil units, vacuum-kill units, vacuumtrucks, transport trailers, etc., to name a few. My experience in thistype of business spans more than 30+ years.

[0005] My customers have been making inquiries to me regarding thecleanout phase of their service tank(s) on their hot oil unit(s), whichis an integral part of the unit. I, during the design phase of theV-bottom service tank, realized it would be Necessary for this sectionof the service tank to be economical, functional, and easily accessiblefor the customer(s).

[0006] Due to the fact that all previously constructed square-styleservice tanks had a flat bottom, it was necessary for the customer(s),in order to clean out the inside of the service tank, to have anemployee physically enter the service tank, which is oily, and thuscontains fumes, which can be dangerous and unsafe. These service tankshave to be cleaned out approximately every 90-120 days, dependent upon avisual inspection. This type method of cleaning is not cost effectiveand is time-consuming.

[0007] I heeded my customer(s) inquiries to design a better servicetank, and began working on my V-bottom style service tank, which I knewhad to be cost effective for my customer(s), so as to not add anyadditional charges to a unit, but establish this style unit as ChandlerMfg., Inc.'s “Standard” unit.

[0008] Thus, after hours of studying, thought process, and countlessdrawings, I designed the V-Bottom style Service Tank.

[0009] I am hereby submitting my paperwork to apply for a patent for myinvention of the V-Bottom style Service Tank.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The V-Bottom Style Service Tank has several advantages over theflat bottom style or other shaped bottoms, of which I've listed below:

[0011] (1) Required entry to go inside an oily tank of a hot oil unit,(which is a confined space under OSHA regulations), will be eliminatedwith my V-Bottom Style Service Tank.

[0012] (2) The cleaning out process of a service tank involves flushingit out with water and pumping out the material via V-Bottom pipingwithout ever having to enter the tank. Thus, the V-Bottom is both costeffective and time efficient.

[0013] (3) The V-Bottom will be the most economical way when compared tothe other methods of draining and cleaning the service tank.

[0014] (4) Because of the ease of eliminating the waste material left inthe service tank (mud, soil, and oil), the tank will have a moreprolonged life span before needing replacement (customer incentive).

[0015] (5) The Safety features of the V-Bottom (non-entry), time elementto clean out a service tank, the monetary savings, customersatisfaction, and promotion of my business are the main reasons for thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DWG

[0016] (Please Refer to the DWG Section)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] V-Bottom Service Tank is fabricated from carbon steel plates andsupported by I or H beams, channels and angles. It is a completelyfabricated and welded part of a hot oil unit.

[0018] The bottom plate of tank is V-shaped, having a 6″×10″×6″ deepsump with a drain coupling in it.

[0019] The tank is divided into six compartments by using baffles, asshown in the drawing. The baffles contain a circular hole at the center,and a cut out at the corners.

[0020] The Top of the tank has a 16″ manway and vent line, while bothsides of the tank contain 16″ diameter inspection holes with a blindflange on them.

[0021] The V-shaped bottom, having the 6″×10″×6″ deep sump is the onlypart that is being claimed as my invention.

[0022] The size of the service tank depends on the barrel capacity ofthe customer's requirements.

1) V-Bottom styled Hot Oil Unit Service Tank 2) The method using theV-Bottom assists in the draining out and cleaning out process of theservice tank. 3) Chandler Mfg., Inc. manufactures a variety of sizes ofthe V-style Bottom of the Service Tank, depending on the customer'srequirements.